Arab Parliament Slams Remarks Against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) By Official Of India’s Ruling Party BJP
The Cairo-based Arab Parliament has strongly condemned and rejected the “irresponsible remarks” made by two spokespersons of the ruling party in India against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
In a statement issued on Monday, the Arab Parliament said that “such statements completely contradict the principle of tolerance and interfaith dialogue”, which “leads to a state of tension and hatred between religions”.
The legislative body of the Arab League also expressed surprise that “such statements are issued by political officials who are supposed to be keener on spreading the values of moderation, tolerance and dialogue between religions and civilizations, and confronting extremist ideas that feed sedition and religious hatred”.
The Arab Parliament also called for the “necessity of realizing the great difference between freedom of expression and respect for the beliefs of others, stressing that it is not possible in any way to accept insulting religions and their sacred symbols under the pretext of freedom of opinion and expression”, the statement added.
Nupur Sharma, who was a spokesperson of India’s ruling Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP),, has since been suspended by the party’s leadership. The other offender, Delhi unit media head Naveen Jindal, has been expelled.
But neither of them has been arrested under Indian law.
Several Muslim nations, including Afghanistan, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Kuwait, Bahrain, Indonesia and Iran, as well as the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation and Muslim World League have officially protested their statements and demanded an apology.
Maharashtra Police summon suspended BJP Spokesperson Nupur Sharma For Her Remarks Against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)
The Police in Mumbra district, which adjoins Maharashtra’s capital, Mumbai, on Tuesday summoned Nupur Sharma to appear before it on June 22 to record her statement over her controversial remarks.
In damage control mode, the BJP’s General Secretary Arun Singh on Sunday said the party “respects all religions” without referring to Sharma and Jindal. “The BJP strongly denounces insults of any religious personalities of any religion. The Bharatiya Janata Party is also against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion. The BJP does not promote such people or philosophy,” Singh’s statement said.
In Chennai, Tamil Nadu state’s capital, the ruling DMK party’s D. Masthan and former Member of Parliament on Tuesday demanded that Sharma and Jindal be arrested for their remarks against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Karnataka Bans 24 Muslim Girl Students From Classes For Wearing Hijab
Twenty-four students studying in a college in Karnataka’s Dakshina Kannada district were on Tuesday banned for a period of seven days from attending classes for wearing hijab.
The decision was taken by authorities of the Uppinangadi Degree College in Puttur taluk after the students refused to attend classes without taking off their hijab.
Tuesday’s incident comes as the government of Karnataka has issued guidelines for schools and colleges making uniform compulsory for students without giving any room for wearing hijab in classrooms.
Though a majority of students are choosing to attend classes, some have insisted on being allowed to attend classes wearing the hijab.
Many of the students belonging to the minority community have applied for transfer certificates from education institutions to join other colleges where hijab is allowed.
College managements have also communicated to students that those who wish to attend classes wearing hijab could take transfer certificates.
The hijab crisis, which started as a protest by six students of Udupi Pre-University Girl’s College, has turned out to be a major situation in Karnataka over the past year.
